Daniel the Beagle – “The Miracle Dog”

Allow us to introduce Hero Dog Daniel the Beagle whom was voted Emerging Hero Dog of 2012 and is currently in contention  for the title of American Hero Dog. Daniel is literally a Miracle Dog. October 3 he was put into a gas chamber in Florence, Alabama along with 17 other stray dogs. Carbon monoxide was pumped into the chamber. When officials returned later and opened the door…Daniel walked out.

Eleventh Hour Rescue, a group dedicated to saving dogs from death row in high kill shelters came to Daniel’s aide setting him up with a new life in New Jersey. According to Daniel, “Once I was gifted my life back, I met some very nice people. They all treated me so well and showered me with love. I did want to know if I would end up in a forever home. My foster parents, arranged for me to meet and greet a family in Nutley, New Jersey. I had never heard of this town since I was new to the area. Our first meeting was on October 30, 2011 after a significant snowstorm. The first dog I met was Spartacus. He was part Beagle like me, but as they say in dog training, quite an alpha personality. Shelby, a Pit Bull, who I heard was a great therapy dog also came out for a walk with me. Everything went well so we went in the house to meet Rommel and Greta, two Dachshunds. We decided to meet again on Monday, November 7, 2011 and the five of us got along even better than the first visit. I thought I heard Jill tell that nice bald guy that she felt this would be a nice home for me.”

Daniel’s gift of life has provided him and his guardians, the Dwyer family, an opportunity to spread positive messages. Daniel is dedicated to outlawing gas chambers in all 50 states, the campaign is called “Daniel’s Law” As well as encouraging families to adopt! Daniel says, “Within each of these goals I am also looking to spread a message of compassionate love to humans. All too often our world is filled with negativity and discrimination. I hope to help others change their daily outlook and develop more positive interactions with all of the diverse people and animals they come into contact with.”

Daniel has also become quite the celebrity with appearances on local, national, and worldwide news outlets, highlighted by an exciting appearance on Anderson Cooper Live. Such renown has brought Daniel the opportunity to make a difference. As a 2012 Hero Dog Daniel has taken this opportunity to support the Pine Street Foundation, whose mission is to help people with cancer reach more informed treatment decisions through education and research. The organization’s research program also supports and informs its education programs by publishing the results of its work in reputable medical journals, and with that, the Pine Street Foundation is able to make the results of its efforts widely available to other researches, practitioners, and patients. The Pine Street Foundation’s program includes ground-breaking research in Canine Scent Detection, where they have trained dogs to identify the smell of breast and lung cancer on patients’ breath.

Gila Kurtz, co-owner of Dog is Good commented on Daniel’s story, “We are so moved by the inspiration Daniel’s survival has created and how it has and will continue to impact the lives of other dogs and people around him. Daniel’s story illustrates how love and compassion can truly make a difference. His life has so much purpose, not just in the tremendous relationship he has with this family, but in creating the impetus for his family to do something positive as they set out on a mission to outlaw gas chambers. This miracle dog has provided his family and others around them, inspiration to spread a positive message that promotes kindness and acceptance of all dogs and all people. It just does not get any better than that.”
So who will be the 2012 American Hero Dog?

The annual national competition recognizes America’s Hero Dogs – often ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, like Daniel the Beagle, whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield, lending sight or hearing to a human companion, or simply the tail-wagging welcome a pet owner relishes at the end of a hard day. Dogs compete in eight categories for the Hero Dog Awards: Law Enforcement & Arson Dogs, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Military Dogs, Guide Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, Hearing Dogs, and Emerging Hero Dogs (the category for “ordinary” dogs). The final round of voting to select the 2012 American Hero Dog continues through October 5.

Support Daniels cause and take a moment to sign the petition to close gas chambers http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/animal-advocates-demand-the-closure-of-a-kill-pound-using-the-gas-chamber/

Dont forget to support Daniel’s cause with the purchase of a Hero Dog Tee…http://www.dogisgood.com/herodog.html

And vote for him to be the 2012 American Hero Dog http://www.herodogawards.org/vote/?nominee=29998526